Flexible container with integral sample tube



May 13, 1958 D. s. TABBERT 2,834,345

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WITH INTEGRAL SAMPLE TUBE Filed Nov. 5, 1954 v Ira/e1: for .Dcnpa c5! Tafiberz United States Patent FLEXIBLE CONTAINER :WITH INTEGRAL SAMPLE TUBE Donna S. Tabbert, Waukegan, Ill., .assignor toiAbbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 3, 1954, Serial No. 466,498

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-214) This invention relates toan improved container and more particularly to a'flexible fluid container having a sealed fluid sample containing compartmentintegral therewith.

The present invention relates particularly to equipment for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids of the general type including whole blood, blood plasma, glucose solutions, and like fluids which are commonly administered parenterally for therapeutic purposes. In fluid containers of the foregoing type in which wh-oleblood is stored, for example, it is important that a sample of the blood should be available for testing immediately before administration to the recipient thereof to insure that the blood within the container is compatible with the blood of the recipient. Since it is undesirable to take a sample of the blood from the sealed container becausetthere is great likelihood of contamination of the contentsthereof, it has been the practice in the art to employ one or more separate sample containers, such as a glass test tube or the like,.for'holding a small portion of the blood of the donor. This test tube is attached to the exterior of the container and accompanies said container at all times so that it will be available for test purposes immediately before the blood in the container is administered to a recipient. It is apparent that in the foregoing practice the test tube container may become separated during storage or may be accidentally broken before the blood is administered to a recipient and for these and other reasons is not entirely satisfactory.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid container which has a scalable fluid sample containing compartment integral therewith and disposed substantially within said container.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible fluid container having integral therewith and extending into the interior thereof a scalable flexible fluid sample containing compartment.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and claims to follow.

The foregoing objects and other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing the embodiment of the invention wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the container of the present invention partially in vertical sectional view;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the foregoing figures, the container body section is comprised of a length of tubing of flexible chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic material having a discharge tube 11 extending outwardly and inwardly from one end thereof. The discharge tube 11 is integral with the wall of said tubing 10 and has the outer end thereof sealed by a closure member 12 which is self-sealing when penetrated by a hypodermic needle and is preferably heat or solvent sealed to the said discharge tube 11. When the closure member 12 is heat orsolvent sealed to the said tubular member 11, the closure member 12 consists of a mixture of rubber and plastic, since rubber cannot be sealed in the foregoing manner to the plastic tubular member 11. If desired, however, the closure 12 can be secured in sealing relationship to the tube 11 by means of a crimped aluminum ring or length of wire. Discharge tube 11 is comprised preferably of a relatively rigid section of chemically inert and physically nonporous plastic tubing so as to provide the desired rigidity so that the closure 12 may bereadily secured thereto and also so as to protect the walls of the flexible tubing 10 against accidental puncture by the end of the hypodermic needle during the filling or withdrawal of fluid therefrom.

The top closure of the container is preferably formed by placing the opposite Walls of the tubing 10 in juxtaposition and applying heat and gentle pressure, thus forming cross-weld sections 14, 14' which extend inwardly from the outer edges of the section of tubing l0 to the discharge tube 11, forming an impervious top closure section with the inner ends of the said diagonal sections the walls of the tubing 10 sealed to the discharge tube 11 forming a rigid section 13 which may be readily grasped while inserting a hypodermic needle through closure member .12.

The end of the flexible tubing 10 opposite the discharge tube 11 has integrally formed therewith a relaoutwardly from the said opposite end of the tubing 10 and having its inner end 16 sealed or otherwise forming a fluid compartment so that there is no communication between the tubular section 15 and the interior of the tubing 10. The outer end 18 of tubular section 15 extending slightly beyond the end of the tubing 10 is closed by a releasable closure member 19 having the same properties and attributes as closure member 12. Tubular section 15 is also preferably comprised of a relatively rigid chemically inert and physically nonporous plastic tubing so as to provide the desired rigidity which permits a closure member 19 being sealaibly applied thereto and also to protect the walls of the tubing 10 from being accidentally punctured during filling or withdrawal of fluid therefrom. The wall portions 17 of the tubing 10 which are contiguous with the section 15 intermediate the ends thereof are formed into an integral structure preferably by applying heat and pressure in the same manner as the closure tube is secured in the opposite end of the tube 10 and also provides sealed cross-weld sections 20, 20'

which completes the end seal of the tubular section 10.

The length of the tubular section 15 is dependent upon the volume of the sample of fluid required and when the container is used for storing whole blood, the section 15 preferably has a volume of about 20 cc. When other fluids are stored within the container, however, a greater or smaller volume may be required. It should also be understood that the tubular section 15 can, if desired, be formed in the upper end of the body section or in both ends thereof. Also, more than one tubular section can be provided in the end of the body section.

A narrow strip of plastic material is secured at its opposite ends to edge section 20, 20 respectively, to provide a hanger strap, thereby affording a convenient means of hanging the filled container.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service, by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof. As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of 2,834,345 A p T my invention, I desire to claim the following subject matter.

I claim:

1. A container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids comprising in combination: a-fiexible walled body section of chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic, said body section haying a filling end and a bottom end providing a fluid impervious container for receivl section having a sealed filling end and a sealed'bottom ing, storing, and dispensing fluids; at least one of said and outwardly therefrom; said chamber having its outer end closed by a penetrable closure member; thereby providing a small volume fluid compartment which is integral with the said body section and protected thereby.

2. A container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids comprising in combination: a flexible walled body section of chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic, said body section having a sealed filling and discharge opening and a closed bottom end providing a container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids; one of said ends of the body section being sealed and having formed integrally therewith at least one small diameter fluid retaining non-frangible chamber of a chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic extending inwardly into the interior of the said body section and outwardly therefrom; said chamber having its inner end provided with an impermeable barrier between the chamber and the interior of the said body section and having its outer end sealed by a penetrable closure member; thereby providing a small volume fluid container which is integral with the said body section and protected thereby.

3. A container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids comprising in combination: a flexible walled body section of chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic having a generally tubular configuration, said body end providing a container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids; said bottom end of the body section being sealed by a cross-weld and having integral therewith a length of chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic tubing extending inwardly into the interior of the said body section and outwardly therefrom; said tubing having its inner end provided with an impermeable barrier between the tubing and the interior of the said body section and having its outer end sealed by a penetrable closure member; thereby providing a small volume fluid container which is integral with the said body section and protected thereby.

4. A container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids comprising in combination: a flexible walledtubular body section of chemically inert and physically nonporous plastic, said body section having a sealed filling end having a penetrable closure integral therewith and a sealed bottom end providing a container for receiving, storing, and dispensing fluids; 'said bottom end of the body section being sealed by a cross-weld and having integral therewith a length of chemically inert and physically non-porous plastic tubing extending inwardly into the interior of the said body'se'ction and outwardly therefrom; said tubing having its inner end sealed providing an impermeable barrier between the tubing and the interior of the said body section and having its outer end sealed by a penetrable closure'r'nember; thereby providing a small volume fluid compartment which is integral with the said body sect-ion and protected thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 996,350 Lamb June 27, 1915 1,639,699 Hopkins Aug. 23, 1927 2,048,219 Putter July 21, 1936 2,687,130 Cohen Aug. 24, 1954 2,702,034 Walter Feb. 15, 1955 

